Discharging mechanism



A. J. BATES.

DISCHAHGING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 10. 1916.

1,328,809. Patented Jan. 27, 1920.

5 SHEETSSHEET I.

A. BATES.

DISCHARGING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.10,19I6.

1,328,809, Patented Jan. 27,1920.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2- A. J. BATES.

DISCHARGING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. I0, I9Ie.

Patented Jan. 27, 1920.

5 SHEETSSHEET 3.

A. J. BATES.

DISCHARGNG MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED JAN.10. 1916.

I 6am 5 SHEETS*SHEET 4.

Patented Jan. 27, 1920.

A. J. BATES.

DISCHARGING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED, JAN, 10, 1916.

1,328,809, Patented Jan.27,1920.

, 5 SHEETSSHEET 5- wiziiajt' N UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT J'. BATES, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO BATES EXPANDED STEEL TR-USS 00., OF WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE;

Specification of Letters Patent.

DISCHARGING MECHANISM.

Patented J an- 2.7, 1920,-

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT J. BATES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Discharging Mechanism, of which the following is a'specification. This invention relates to discharging mechanism and has for its principal object the provision of simple and effectlve means for receiving previously-treated articles, such as heated structural members and for conveying such articles to and from a dipping tank where they are given a preservative coating.

A further object of my invention is the provision of conveying means and means for receiving and depositing the articles to be conveyed upon the conveying means.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent as is better understood by reference to the following specification when read in connection with the accompanyin drawing, illustrating the preferred embodiment, in whichv Figure 1 is a plan view of the discharging mechanism according to my invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of a portion. of the mechanism withparticular reference to the mean for receiving and depositing objects thereupon;

Figs. 3 and 4 are enlarged side elevations of the rearward and forward portions, respectively, of the mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary end elevation of the rearward end of the mechanism;

Fig. 6 is a vertical section on the line 66 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6' is a detail in elevation of a portion of the structure illustrated in Fig. 6;

Fig. 7 is a detail in elevation of the cam for controlling the movement of the deposit ing means;

Fig. 8 is a vertical section on the line 8-8 of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 9 is a vertical'section on the line S)9 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawing, two conveyer tables are provided each consisting of upright members 1, transverse members 2 supported thereon and rails 3 supported onthe transverse members 2. Between the tables is disposed a dipping tank at which may be partially filled with the coating material 5, steam pipes 6 being preferably disposed in the bottom of the tank 4 to heat the coating material. Obviously any other suitable heating means may be employed.

The forward table, indicated at the right of Fig. 1 and in Fig. his provided with endless conveyor chains '7 disposed about the sprockets -8 and 9 secured, respectively, to the shafts 10 and 1.1 which are j ournaled in suit able bearings on the table. The shaft 11 is driven through a gear train comprising the gears 12, 13,14 and 15 from a shaft lfihaving a .worm gear 17 secured thereto. A shaft 18,havin'g a worm meshing with the worm gear 17, is provided with a worm gear 19 meshing with a worm on the shaft 20, which is preferably driven by means of a belt 21 from the motor 22. The upper portions of the chains 7 project above the plane of the upper surface of the rails 3, so that as the chain advances articles such as the structural members 23 are moved alon the table. The lower portions of the 0113,1118 7 are supported midway of their length on idlers 24: mounted on the uprights 1.

The rearward table, illustrated at the left of Fig. 1 and in Fig. 3, is provided with conveyer chains 25 supported on sprockets26 and 27 secured, respectively, to the shafts 28 and 2,9 journaled in suitable bearings on the table, the lower portions of the chains 25 being supported by idlers 30 on the uprights 1 andthe upper portions projecting above the rails 3 to advance thestructural members 23 along the table. The shaft 29 is driven through a gear train comprising the gears '31, 32, 33 and 34: from a shaft 35 provided at its extremity with a worm gear 36. A shaft 37 is provided with a worm meshing with the worm 36 and with a worm gear 38, which is driven by a worm on the shaft '39, preferably actuated through a 'beltt) from the motor 41. i

It will be readily undertsood from the foregoing that the structural members 23 may be advanced along the tables at any desired speed. The object of this arrangement A posited upon table. When discharged, the members 23 are, therefore, in condition for immediate shipment and may be loaded directly from the table into cars or other suitable conveying means.

At the rearward table I have provided means to receive the articles to be conveyed and for depositing them at will upon the conveyer. Referring particularly to Figs.

2 and 5 to 9, inclusive, 42 indicates upright A spring 76, connecting th foot lever 74,

members of a supporting frame and 43 and 43 upper and lower horizontal members to retain the members 42 in proper spaced relation. Pivotally mounted at 44 in suitable brackets 45, secured to a member 43, are rocker arms 46 to the upper extremities of which the shelves 47 are pivotally secured at 48. The shelves 47 are provided with in wardly directed arms 49, each provided with a pin 50 adapted to run in a gate cam 51 having a gate 52 pivotally mounted at 53 therein and normally maintained in the position indicated in Fig. 7 by a spring 54, secured to an arm 55 rigid with the gate 52 and to the horizontal member 43. The vrocker arms 46 are connected by links 56 to eccentric sleeves 57 disposed about the eccentrics 58 secured to a transverse shaft 5 journaled in suitable bearings 60 on the supporting frame. Loosely mounted on the shaft 59 is a sprocket 61 which is driven by a chain 62 disposed about a sprocket 63 on the shaft 85, the sprocket 61 being, therefore, continuously driven while the apparatus is in operation. Secured to the sprocket 61 is a ratchet 64. An arm 65, rigid with a collar 65 se cured to the shaft 59, pivotally supports a pawl 66 provided with a tooth 67. A spring 68, secured to th pawl. 66 and to a pin 69 on the collar 65, tends to maintain the tooth 67 in engagement with one of the teeth of the ratchet 64. The pawl 66 is provided with an extension 70 which normally engages an abutment 71 mounted on a rod 72 which is slidably disposed in lugs 7 3 on the pivoted foot lever 74. A spring 75 resiliently maintains the abutment 71 in position to be engaged by the extension 70 as the shaft 59 rotates to withdraw the tooth 67 from engage ment with one of the teeth of the ratchet 64 and free the shaft 59 from the sprocket 61.

with an arm 77 supported on the horizontal.

member 43, resiliently maintains the foot lever 74 in its uppermost position.

WVhen a member 23 has been disposed on the shelves 47 and the operator desires to deposit the member on th conveyer the foot lever 74 is depressed, freeing the extension 70 from the abutment 71 and allowing the tooth 67 to engage one of the teeth of the ratchet 64. The shaft 59 is thereby connected to the sprocket 61, which is continuously rotating and the consequent rotation of the shaft 59 will through eccentrics 58, links 56 and supporting arms 46 move the shelves 47 forwardly. When the shelves 47 hav reached the forward limit of their travel they will deposit the member carried thereby upon the conveyer chains 25 and simultaneously the pins 50 will pass the ends of the gates 52, allowing the arms 49 to drop so that the shelves 47 are no longer in engagement withthe member 23. Upon continued movement of the shaft 59 the shelves 47 are moved rearwardly to their normal position. When the shaft 59 has made a complete rotation the extension 70 of the pawl 66 engages the abutment 71 and releases the shaft 59 from the sprocket 61.

In order to prevent movement of the shaft 59 in the reverse direction when freed from the sprocket 61, which result naturally fol lows from the position of the ececntrics 58 at this phase of the operation, I have provided. a latch 78, pivotally mounted at 79 on one of the upright members 42 and adapted to engage a notch 80 in a member 81 secured to the shaft 59. When the various parts of the mechanism are in normal position ready to receive a member the latch 78 will be disposed in the notch 80 but as soon as the foot lever is actuated the latch 78 will be freed from the notch and will be inoperative until the mechanism again comes to rest.

It will be understood from the foregoing that I have perfected a discharging mechanism which not only provides for the conveying of articles toward and from a dipping tank at relatively different rates of speed, the rate of speed being determined by conditions of the desired treatment, but that I have also provided etlicient means whereby elongated structural members may be received and deposited upon the conveying means at will. By constructing the shelves 47 in separate units which are simultaneously actuated I provid for the handling of heated members, it being understood that if a single elongated shelf 47 is provided the heat given up by the members 23, which it may be noted are 80 feet or more in length, would cause sufiicient expansion to disrupt the mechanism. Furthermore, by the use of separate shelves 47 passageways are provided for the conveyer chains 25 which normally travel about one-half inch below the surface of the shelves 47. The forward movement of the arms 46 causes a gentle lowering of th shelves 4-7 until the member 23 carried thereby rests on the chains 25. The dropping of the arms 49 allows the shelves to slide from under the member 23 and to return to normal position unloaded ready for the succeeding operation.

It will be obvious that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing any of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a conveyer, means for advancing said conveyor, a plurality of separate alined shelves normally disposed above the plane of said conveyer and adapted to coiiperatively support an elongated structural member, said shelves being mounted for bodily movement forward and then downward to deposit the member upon the conveyer, and means controllable at will to simultaneously move all of said shelves from their normal position to a position below the plane of said con" veyer.

9. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a conveyer, means for advancing said conveyer, support ing means normally disposed above the plane of said conveyer, said supporting means comprising a plurality of independently mounted alined elements adapted to cooperatively support an elongated structural member, said elements being mounted for bodily forward and downward movements to deposit the member upon the conveyer, and meanscontrollable at will to simultaneously move all of said shelves from normal position to a position below the plane of said conveyer.

3. In an apparatus of the character de scribed, the combination of a conveyer, means for advancing said conveyor, supporting means at one end of said conveyer normally disposed above the plane thereof, said supporting means comprising a plurality of separate {shelves adapted to cooperatively support an elongated struc tural member, said conveyer comprising a plurality of endless chains and said shelves being arranged for operation between said chains, said shelves being mounted for bodily forward and downward movement to deposit the member upon said chains, and means controllable at will to sii'nultaneously move all of said means from normal position to a position below the plane of said conveyer.

4. In an apparatus of the character de scribed, the combination of a conveyer, means for advancing said conveyer, a plurality of separate alined supporting shelves arranged end to end transversely of said conveyer, normally disposed above the plane thereof, and adapted to coiiperatively support an elongated structural member, rocker arms supporting said shelves, said shelves being bodily movable forward conj ointly with said rocker arms and adapted to tilt down- Ward relatively to said rocker arms, and means for simultaneously moving all of said shelves from normal position to a position below the plane of said conveyer.

5. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a conveyer, means for advancing said conveyor, a supporting shelf comprising a plurality of separate alined elements adapted to cooperatively support an elongated structural member, each member being mounted to permit a bodily forward movement and a bodily tilting movement at the end of the forward movement, and means for simultaneously actuating said elements to move the member supported thereon from normal position above the plane of said conveyer to a position below the plane thereof.

6. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a conveyer, means for advancing said conveyer, a support at one end of said conveyor comprising pivoted arms and a plurality of separate alined elements independently mounted, each on one of said arms, for bodily movement forward conjointly therewith and for bodily movement relatively thereto at the end of the forward movement, and adapted to cooperatively support an elongated structural member, means for simultaneously actuating all of said arms, driving means, and means for intermittently connecting said driving and actuating means whereby said elements are moved. to deposit the article carried thereby onto said conveyer.

7. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a conveyor, means for continuously advancing said con-- veyer, a support at one end of said conveyercomprising pivoted arms, a plurality of separate alined elements mounted for bodily forward movement conjoi ntly with said arms and for bodily movement relatively to said arms at the end of the forward movement, and adapted to cooperatively support an elongated structural. member. a shaft, connections between said arms and shaft, and means for intermittently driving said shaft whereby all of said elements are simultaneously moved to deposit the member carried thereby onto said conveyer.

8. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a conveyor, i'neans for continuously advancing said conveyer, a support at one end of said conveyer, said support comprising a plurality of pivoted arms, a plurality of alined shelves, each shelf being pivotally connected to one of said arms, and adapted to move bodily forward conjointly therewith and to tilt downward at the end of the forward movement, said shelves being adapted tosupport an elongated structural member, a shaft, a plurality of eccentrics secured thereto, connections between said eccentrics and arms, means for intermittently driving said shaft whereby all of said elements are simultaneously moved to deposit the memberoarried thereby onto said conveyer.

9. In anapparatus of the character described, the combination of a conveyer, means for continuously advancing said conveyer, a support at one end of said conveyer comprising pivoted arms, a plurality of alined elements each independently and pivotally connected to one of said arms, and movable forward conjointly therewith and downward relatively thereto at the end of the forward movement, said elements being adapted to cooperatively support an elongated structural member, means for simultaneously actuating said arms to move said alined elements and deposit said member carried thereby onto said conveyer, and means for moving said alined elements about their pivotal connections to free said alined elements. 7

10. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a conveyer, means for continuously advancing said conveyer, a support at one end of said conveyer to receive an article to be conveyed, comprising pivoted arms, a plurality of alined elements pivotally connected to said arms, means for actuating said arms to move said alined elements bodily in a horizontal and downward direction toward said conveyer to deposit an article carried thereby on said conveyer, a plurality of gate cams, and means connected to said alined elements and cooperating with said gate cams for moving said alined elements about said pivotal connections to free said alined elements from said article.

11. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a conveyer, means for continuously advancing said conveyer, a support at one end of said conveyer, to receive an article to be conveyed, a plurality of pivoted arms, a plurality of alined shelf elements pivotally connected to said arms, a shaft, a sprocket loosely mounted on said shaft, means for continuously driving said sprocket, a ratchet connected to said sprocket, a pawl connected to said shaft and adapted to engage said ratchet, a foot lever having an abutment normally disposed in the path of said pawl to prevent engagement of said pawl with said ratchet, a plurality rality of pivoted arms,

of eccentrics secured to said shaft, and connections between said eccentrics and pivoted arms, whereby the latter are actuated when said shaft is rotated to deposit the article carried by said shelf elements on said conveyer.

12. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a conveyer, means for continuously advancing said conveyer, a support at one end of said conveyer, to receive an article to be conveyed, a plua plurality of alined shelf elements pivotally connected to said arms, a shaft, a sprocket loosely mounted on said shaft, means for contiiniously driving said sprocket, a ratchet connected to said sprocket, a pawl connected to said shaft and adapted to engage said ratchet, a foot lever having an abutment normally disposed in the path of said pawl to prevent engagement of said pawl with said ratchet, a plurality of eccentrics secured to said shaft, connections between said eccentrics and pivoted arms, whereby the latter are actuated when said shaft is rotated to deposit the ar ticle carried by said shelf elements on said conveyer, and means to prevent backward rotation of said shaft.

13. In an apparatus of the character de scribed, the combination of a conveyer, means for advancing said conveyer, receiving means at one end of said conveyer, including a plurality of alined elements independently mounted end to end, each on a pivoted arm, for bodily movement forward with said arm and for independent tilting movement at the end of said forward movement, said elements being adapted to cooperatively support an elongated structural member, means operable at will for actuating the receiving means to discharge the member onto said conveyer and to return said receiving means to normal position, and means for automatically arresting the movement of said receiving means when in normal position.

14. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a conveyer, means for advancing said conveyer, a support at one end of said conveyer comprising a plurality of alined elements arranged end to end and adapted to cooperatively support an elongated structural member, pivoted arms mounted to swing about a fixed horizontal axis, said elements being pivotally mounted at the rear thereof upon said arms for bodily forward movement conjointly therewith, arms on said shelves, means engaging said arms to tilt the shelves downward at the end of their forward movement, and means for simultaneously operating said arms.

15. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a conveyer, means for advancing said conveyer, a support at one end of said conveyer comprising a plurality of alined elements arranged end to end and adapted to cooperatively support an elongated structural member, pivoted arms mounted to swing about a fixed horizontal axis, said elements being supported on said arms for bodily movement conjointly therewith, a shaft, connections between said arms and shaft, whereby said elements are moved toward and from said 10 conveyer means, means for rotating said shaft, and means for automatically disconnecting said rotating means after each r0- tation of said shaft.

ALBERT J. BATES. Witnesses:

WM. 0. BELT, M. A. KIDDIE. 

